[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during March 2026]
He answered, ‘Must I not take care to say what the Lord puts into my mouth?’
Numbers 23 v12 [ESVUK]
Our opening verse comes from the early part of the story of Balaam around 1400BC. Balaam is remembered primarily for his conversation with a talking donkey but the story has lessons beyond animal husbandry.
The Biblical account tells how Balak, the king of Moab, commissioned Balaam to curse the Israelite nation which was advancing upon his territory. Despite strong financial incentives, Balaam was unwilling to curse those whom God had blessed, much to the annoyance of Balak.
Do we defend what is right even when the authorities of the day demand otherwise?
Neither Balak nor Balaam was an Israelite but they both recognised the existence and power of the God of Israel. Balak tried to appease him with sacrifices, hoping to persuade God to act on his terms. By contrast, Balaam initially listened to God and followed his instructions.
And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.”
Numbers 23 v16 [ESVUK]
However, driven by his personal greed, Balaam acted beyond what he had been instructed. He conspired with Balak to undermine the spiritual integrity of the Israelites by exploiting the allure of Moabite women to lead many Israelite men into worshipping foreign gods.[1] Balaam’s initial obedience in blessing the Israelites was negated by this duplicity.
Are there situations where we obey God’s instructions but with one eye on the benefits that we might obtain?
None of us is likely to be in the position of being offered a large reward for cursing God’s people. For us the temptations are more subtle. It may be easier to keep quiet when people are being mocked for their faith, or to put some distance between them and us. The apostle Peter was challenged about his relationship with Jesus and he lived to regret his response. Later, as a leader of God’s people, he wrote about the consequences of Balaam’s deviousness.
Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
2 Peter 2 v15 [ESVUK]
Are there times when we know what we should say, but don’t? Are we fearful about being challenged? Jesus anticipated this and gave us some advice:
And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13 v11 [ESVUK]
In conclusion we return to the theme of our opening verse. Some 550 years after Balaam’s refusal to obey Balak another prophet found himself in the position of speaking against the wishes of a king.
But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”
1 Kings 22 v14 [ESVUK]
May God grant us the courage to do likewise.
References:
[1] Numbers 31:16
Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.
Bible dates:
Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.
Horley Baptist Church onlineHBC main site
Confidential prayer link
Link to Recent Reflections
Link to Index of Bible Passages
Last week’s reflection: War and … more war
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys